PLATTSBURGH — A union contract between the City of Plattsburgh and its firefighters has been approved by both entities for the first time in over a decade.
Plattsburgh Professional Firefighters Local 2421 and the city hadn't successfully negotiated a contract since 2005, a City of Plattsburgh press release said.
“The last arbitration award went to 2013.”
The new agreement is for seven years, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014, and continuing through Dec. 13, 2020.
Plattsburgh Professional Firefighters voted to approve the contract on Monday, after the Common Council did so at its Nov. 29 meeting.
Councilor Rachelle Armstrong (D-Ward 1), Councilor Mike Kelly (R-Ward 2), Dale Dowdle (R-Ward 3), Peter Ensel (R-Ward 4), Patrick McFarlin (I-Ward 5) and Joshua Kretser (D-Ward 6) all voted in favor of the agreement.
‘A BETTER POSITION’
“For too long the city and the firefighters’ union have been unable to successfully negotiate a contract,” Mayor Colin Read said in the release. “Instead, terms have been imposed on both sides by arbitrators.
“I believe we are in a better position to work together than to rely on arbitrators and layers of lawyers in adversarial proceedings.”
Throughout the years, conversations between the two parties have circled several points, including Fire Department raises.
While a written document hasn't been formulated for viewing or signed just yet, Read said this should happen within a week or so.
“The significant term of this agreement is to provide the union membership with raises that don't exceed the local rate of inflation, up to a maximum of 1.5%, for the years 2014 to 2020,” the city release said.
MOVING FORWARD
During the Nov. 29 Common Council meeting the mayor said negotiations were difficult for both the city and the union.
“But I think the taxpayers will find that the average annual increases are worked out quite well for the tax payers and presumably worked out well for the firefighters as well,” he said.
Union President Douglas Walker could not be reached as of Friday evening, but said in the release: “On behalf of the firefighters of Local 2421 I would like to say how happy and relieved we are to put this behind us and to move forward.”
Read said he was also grateful for a fresh start with the union.
“I’m equally grateful that the firefighters were willing to work with the city to construct a contract that balances affordability and sustainability,” he said.
“The negotiations were at times difficult, but I’m impressed by the professionalism and the shared responsibility for the city and its taxpayers that both sides recognized.”
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Twitter: @McKenzieDelisle
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